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2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo: Review notes: A potent and manly bug

March 8, 2012

The four-cylinder engine in the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo pumps out 200 hp.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: To my eye, this slammed "new new" Beetle Turbo is the car Volkswagen should have created back when the company introduced the New Beetle. The lowered roofline and the creased sheetmetal make for a much sportier and sleeker appearance compared with the pudgy porker that preceded it. This thing looks manly and mean versus its cute and cuddly predecessor. And even with the lower roof, interior headroom doesn't seem to suffer--likely because of the fact that you could've flown a kite while wearing a 10-gallon hat without touching the headliner with all of the airspace in the older model.

The new car also eschews the quirky bud vase for a usable upper dash tray, which seems to be a far better use of interior real estate. I'd still like VW's interior folks to at least consider adding extenders to the sun visors, however. And while the Fender audio system rocks, the odd interface seems as if it could take some getting used to.

Under it all, at least in the Turbo model, is a screaming powertrain that loves to rev and shifts with authority. The chassis is dialed in to keep the body under control and the tires planted, without being overly harsh on the hard bumps. It's a happy medium.

For those still whining that VW lost its way when it didn't bring back a proper rear-engined Beetle, I get it. But as someone who owned one of those air-cooled, barely heated underpowered go-karts back in the day, I'd prefer this super new Beetle any day. It's a hoot.

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: A manlier Beetle? Deleting the flower vase and giving the exterior a less bubbly, sleeker appearance are good moves by Volkswagen to make the Beetle more appealing to men. A buddy of mine found it attractive and even went as far as to say that he wouldn't mind owning one. I asked him if he ever could have bought the previous model and he basically said there was no way in hell.

I have to admit I also like the looks of this new bug. A more defined roofline and the removal of the cute interior items is a good start in trying to win over more male customers. Probably even more important are the performance credentials the Beetle brings to the table. Forget about the base 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder; you'll want your bug equipped with Volkswagen's workhorse 2.0-liter turbo. With 200 hp at your disposal, the Beetle is quick off the line and has enough muscle to hustle you out of corners in short order. VW says the Beetle Turbo is the fastest production Bug to date. Our test car had the slick six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, but the six-speed manual is standard.

As we have said countless times, this smooth engine revs effortlessly to redline, and with the dual-clutch transmission is a great pairing. I could detect only the slightest bit of turbo lag and lightning-quick shifts from the gearbox, especially with the sport button pressed. If I was shopping for a Beetle Turbo, mine would certainly be equipped with the standard six-speed manual, which would save you $1,100.

The suspension is a little odd. During initial turn-in for corners, the Beetle exhibits a noticeable amount of lean, but then just plants and holds its line through corners in a well-controlled manner. It's a little surprising that the Beetle has so much grip. Or maybe it shouldn't be surprising because, like the GTI, the Beetle Turbo has the XDS cross differential that routes torque to the wheel with the most traction.

Steering response from the electromechanical system is dead on-center, which is good for a sneeze buffer, and tightens up when you dial in more lock. The brakes feel good and return stout stopping force.

The front bucket seats have OK support, and Bob is right about the Fender sound system rocking.

If you're looking for a sporty compact car with some styling personality, the Beetle Turbo should be on your shopping list. The Mini Cooper hardtop is another car with styling panache and a lively drive character. I would argue that the Mini scores higher on the driving entertainment scale, though.